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Betty Dodges Woyome

14 July 2012Journalists who eagerly thronged the Ghana International Press Centre on Thursday to grill former Attorney General Betty Mould-Iddrisu over her role in the judgment debts paid during her tenure as Attorney General in 2009, were surprised by her refusal to answer specific questions, especially on the Woyome saga.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu’s handlers barred journalists from asking questions about her role in the Woyome judgment debt scandal.

A question bordering on her resignation from the Mills government was promptly brushed aside.

The conference, which was called between 7pm and 8pm, was inundated by National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, with some holding placards in her support, creating an eerie atmosphere for the journalists.

Gifty Andoh of Joy News got caught up in a heated argument with NDC fanatics who tried restraining journalists from asking questions. “This is a press conference,” she reminded the irate party goons.

Eventually, when the floor was cleared for questions, curiously, journalists were told to confine their questions to the Construction Pioneer (CP) scandal even though Mrs. Mould-Iddrissu’s counsel, Nana Ato Dadzie, had earlier promised to give the media unrestrained access to the embattled former Attorney General.

Eventually, the journalists had to ask questions on only the €94million controversially paid to CP in 2010 under the supervision of Madam Mould-Iddrisu.

The press conference was basically chaotic as party supporters and journalists were engaged in a scramble for the press statement after the conference.

The beleaguered former government’s chief legal advisor declined answering questions about other shady judgment debts which she allegedly directly supervised.

They include the GH¢51.2million fraudulently paid to businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome which has become an albatross around the neck of the NDC.

Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu also declined answering questions relating to her unceremonious resignation from the Mills government in January 2012.

Even though there are speculations that she was forced to resign as Minister of Education, the former AG would not want to be drawn into her resignation matter.

She would be facing the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, 17th July, 2010 to answer questions on her role in the CP multimillion settlements that have generated intense debate nationwide.

Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu was the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice when the state failed to put up a defence on the suit filed by businessman Alfred Woyome for judgment debts over the abrogation of an alleged contract with the government in 2006, for the rehabilitation of three stadiums.

She resigned in January following the brouhaha over the payment of judgment debts in the Mills administration. She has remained practically silent over the reasons for her resignation.

Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu was the second Cabinet Minister in the Mills Administration to have exited from Government over the Woyome judgment debt. Martin Alamisi B.K Amidu was fired earlier this year over the same judgment debt scandals.